Improvement in rufflers for sewing-machines



` E. J'. TOQF.v

Ruffler. f

Patented May 21,1872.

STATES Param rrron EDWIN J. TOOF, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA.

Specification 4forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,913, dated May 21, 1872.

, viding the feed-plate of a ruffling attachment (such as is described in Letters Patent granted to me October 24, 1871, No. 120,173) with a guide for the piece of goods to be ruffled, and sewed between an upper and lower piece of goods, said feed-plate and guide to be combined with a presser-foot provided with a folding-in or hemmin g device.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de-` scribe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of my specification, Figure l is a perspective view of a ruftl'm g attachment, the feed-plate of which is provided with a guide. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the feed-plate and guideat line y of Fig. 1. l

The ligure marked B represents a piece of goods turned over upon another piece which is ruffled and sewed in between the upper and lower portions of the turned-over piece, the

' portion turned overbeing hemmed at the same y time. C is a section of B at line y1. The

figure marked D represents apiece of goods ruffled and sewed between an upper and lower piece, the upper piece being hemmed at the same operation. E is a section at line y2 of D.

In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing,e

Arepresents a bent larm provided with an A opening, e, for the screw used for securing it to the presser-bar of the sewing-machine. B isa bent lever pivoted to the arm A at x, the front end of which is forked so as to straddle the screw which secures the needle in position. 'Ihe lever B is provided with an adjusting- `screw, Z, for varying the position of the limb 7c of the piece m, with relation to the downward-projecting limb g of the lever B. The piece m is pivoted with the lever Bto the bent arm A, as indicated at On the arm A is placed a feed-plate, C, which is provided with lugs s, against which the limb la of the piece m, and the limb g of the lever B, alternately strike at each up-and-down movement of the lever B, thereby imparting to the feed-plate C a reciprocating motion. h is an orifice in the feedplate C for the needle. The feed-plate C is provided with a guide, m', which is fitted to a folding-in or hemmingdevice on the plate; but it may be otherwise secured to the plate. The manner of securing the guide to the plate I leave to the good judgment and skill of the mechanic. The presser-foot A' is provided with a folding-in or hemming device, D, which is constructed of sheet metal, and secured to it by means of screw j' or by other suitable means.

When the ruftling attachment, constructed as hereinbefore described, is attached to the presser-bar ofthe sewing-machine, the bedplate of the machine will be unincumbered, whereby the skirt of a ladys dress may be trimmed with a series of hemmed ruffles, and attached to it at different distances from its edge.

rlhe operation is as follows: The upper piece of goods a' is placed in the folding-in or hem ming device D, and the piece w', to be rufded, is placed in the guide m, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2, and passed between the feed-plate C, and the under side of the foldingin or hemming device D on the presser-foot. The under piece of goods is placed between the feed-plate C and the bed-plate of the sewing-machine, and the needle passing down carries the lever B `with it, the limb 7c of the piece on strikes against the back lug s of the feed-plate O, carrying it backward, leaving a space between the feed-plate and the needle. Then, as the needle rises, the lever B is carried upward, causing the limb g to strike against the forward lug s, which will move the feedplate (l forward, and it presses the piece of goods against the under side of the foldingin or hemming device D, carrying the piece of goods w with it, folding it over ready for the needle in its next downward motion to pass through the upper piecex, the fold and the under piece of goods, (which is carried forward by the feedof the machine,) and thus ruffle, hein, and sew the three pieces of goods together, as shown in the gures marked D and E. By removing the guide onf, and using the folding-in device which holds it, a piece of goods may be rufed, hemmed, and sewed to another piece of goods, as shown in the figure marked F.

Having thus described my improvement in attachment for sewin g-machines, what Iclaim as of my invention is The feed-plete of the rufding device provided with a guide, and used in combination with a presser-foot furnished with a folding-in device, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

EDWIN J. TOOF.

Witnesses:

WM. W. S. DYRE, EDM. F. BROWN. 

